New Zealand agencies have written an Open Letter calling on the government to increase the aid vote in this year’s budget. The group of 37 agencies are asking for an urgent increase in Official Development Aid (ODA) spending, to reach 0.5% of the Gross National Income (GNI).

Christian World Service welcomed the opportunity to support the letter, coordinated by the Council for International Development of which it is a member.

“In these challenging times, it is tempting to turn inward and focus solely on domestic challenges. However, as crises compound globally, the world looks to New Zealand to boldly live up to our international commitments. We have an important role to play both in the Pacific region, and to the most urgent humanitarian crises around the world.

“Therefore, we implore you, Ministers, to increase New Zealand’s overseas development assistance to 0.5% in this year’s budget with a plan to incrementally increase this year on year to 0.7% in this term of Government,” wrote the agencies.

Concerned people may like to raise the matter with their MP or send a supporting message to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Rt Hon. Winston Peters and Hon. David Seymour to whom the letter was addressed.

In 2022, aid levels fell to 0.22% of GNI, well below the 0.7% commitment first made in 1970. On May 30, the Minister of Finance Nicola Willis will announce the budget for next year. It will include the ODA allocation for the next three years, making an increase this year important.

In the year ending June 30, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the highest ever aid expenditure of NZ$971.5 million. It delivered 61% ($592.2 million) in the Pacific (including the Cook Islands which technically are not eligible for ODA), 1% ahead of its goal.

Aid levels are reported to the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development) which analyses ODA. New Zealand ranked 26th in 2022, behind countries like Hungary, Slovenia, and Iceland.

“Foreign aid and ODA are not a handout; it is an investment in the type of world we all aspire to see,“ the letter concluded.

March 21, 2024